Midco Internet Review: Plans, Pricing and Availability Compared

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Midcontinent Communications, or Midco, is a unique internet provider in that it offers cable, fiber and fixed wireless internet connections. Speeds will vary depending on the available connection type at your address. Fixed wireless has the slowest max speed, around 100 megabits per second. Fiber internet is fastest, though its cable service is not far behind.

Another unique aspect to Midco is its cable and fiber plan selection. Midco’s fiber service offers up to seven plans, among the most I’ve seen from any provider, with speeds ranging from 125 to 5,000Mbps. Those on Midco’s cable network can decide between six plans with max speeds up to 1,250Mbps. 

Which Midco internet plan is best?

Midco presents multiple plans to choose from, but there’s a noticeable jump in speed between each plan and the next, typically 250Mbps, to make it easier to find the right plan for your needs. Consider what you use the internet for and how many devices and users will be on your network to .

If you want a high-speed plan but would prefer to keep your bill under $100 a month, I would recommend Midco’s 750Mbps plan. The plan offers ample speed for general household use and will run you about $96 per month (not including taxes and fees) with equipment rental, even after the standard pricing kicks in. 

Regardless of the plan you choose, Midco’s pricing is as fair as any, even after the standard rates go into effect after 12 months. Wireless service is also competitively priced at $39 ($59 after 12 months), for relatively fast speeds considering the connection type, up to 100Mbps.

Aside from speeds and pricing, what else can you expect from Midco? Here’s everything to know about the ISP before signing up.

Midco equipment fees, data caps and contracts

Renting Wi-Fi equipment through Midco will add $11 to your monthly bill. That’s not a bad deal as many ISPs charge more to rent a router, but it’s worth noting that some .

Cable and fiber customers have the option to and by skipping the rental fee. Wireless internet customers, unfortunately, do not have the option to use their own equipment, so if you’re considering wireless service, go ahead and add $11 to your monthly cost.

For houses larger than 1,500 sq. ft. or with more than one floor, Midco recommends adding Wi-Fi pods as needed (up to five) for better whole-home Wi-Fi coverage. Mesh pods are available to rent for just $2 monthly per device.

As for data caps and contracts, all Midco service types and plans come with unlimited data and are contract-free.

Midco internet availability

Appropriately named, Midcontinent Communications is situated in the middle of the US, with headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Midco offers internet service in parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and, to a lesser extent, Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin. 

Popular Midco service areas include: 

• Aberdeen, South Dakota
• Bemidji, Minnesota
• Bismarck, North Dakota
• Dickinson, North Dakota
• Fargo, North Dakota
• Grand Forks, North Dakota
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Minot, North Dakota
• Pierre, South Dakota
• Rapid City, South Dakota
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Wilmar, Minnesota

The majority of Midco’s coverage area comes from its wireless network, but the provider’s cable service is available to more homes. Fiber internet is less widely available, though Midco’s fiber coverage has steadily increased in recent years, according to the FCC.

How does Midco internet compare?

Midco’s quality of service and overall value will vary depending on the available service type at your address. Fiber is a preferable connection type over cable, and cable is preferred to fixed wireless.

If your area's internet options include fiber internet from Midco and cable internet from another provider such as Xfinity or Spectrum, Midco will likely offer the best plan selection, including the fastest download and upload speeds and superior speed reliability. Pricing may be lower for comparable speeds as well. For example, 500Mbps from Midco starts at $49 a month ($75 after 12 months), while the same download speed potential from Spectrum can initially run you $70 a month and $108 after 24 months.

On the other hand, if your address is only serviceable for Midco’s cable service and a fiber provider like AT&T Fiber or Quantum Fiber is available, the fiber service will again probably present the best speed selection and value. 

Additionally, fiber internet is capable of delivering symmetrical upload and download speeds. While Midco’s cable upload speeds are faster than most, maxing out around 200Mbps, they are still slower than what’s available from a fiber connection.

Midco’s fixed wireless service is a decent option for internet in rural areas, but you’ll want to pass on it if a cable or fiber ISP is available in your area. If there are none, Midco’s fixed wireless internet is worth considering, especially in favor of a DSL service, though wireless internet from T-Mobile Home Internet may be faster and cheaper (with no required equipment fees).

Midco customer satisfaction

Our usual sources for customer satisfaction, the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, don’t currently include Midco in their national customer satisfaction reports. Midco did appear in a 2022 report from J.D. Power, however, where it took the top spot for customer satisfaction in the North Central region with a score of 734 out of 1,000, edging out AT&T's 724.

The BBB gives Midco an A+ rating, but their customer review score is less favorable at 1.27 out of 5. While low scores are concerning, they are common among internet providers. For comparison, Xfinity, Frontier and Spectrum have BBB customer review scores of 1.07, 1.05 and 1.09, respectively. Among the mere 42 complaints filed with the BBB in the past three years, most concerns involve intermittent service outages and billing issues. Again, that’s fairly typical of internet providers.

Over on Allconnect, Midco received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars from 27 customer reviews. One user commented that “Midco is a great provider,” while another took issue with the TV pricing and another quipped the service “only works about 4 hours a day while it spends the other 20 buffing.” 

Midco internet recap

Your experience with Midco will vary depending on the available connection type -- cable, fiber or fixed wireless -- at your address. Fixed wireless has the largest coverage area, but cable service is available to the most homes. Those fortunate enough to be on Midco’s growing fiber network will have the best speed selection and service reliability.

Pricing is competitive across all Midco connection types, even after the standard rates go into effect after 12 months. Service terms are also largely favorable as there are no data caps or contracts, though the equipment rental fee could add $11 to your monthly bill. 

Midco internet FAQs